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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To ask if you agree with ‘the flag flyers’

243 replies

Gobbledygook123 · 19/09/2025 17:54

Plus if you’re also educated and at least middle income?

The only people I know personally that agree with Farage et al are from working class backgrounds and/or are generally not educated higher than GCSE level.

Granted this is quite a small snapshot but this includes friends of friends, acquaintances etc so wondering if my perception of the ‘typical Farage voter’ is correct or skewed.

OP posts:
RufustheFactuaIReindeer · 20/09/2025 08:37

I agree with you. I think a more interesting poll would be where do you live and how affected by illegal immigration has your area been

this is a good idea, would be very interesting

OCDmama · 20/09/2025 08:41

From a single parent family, shit comp, council estate. I beat the odds and have three post-grad qualifications. About three quarters of my family are massively racist/homophobic/sexist and yes, uneducated.

What angers me most is it's not about being proud. It's about opposition to immigration. I hate the use of such a flimsy smokescreen.

AnAlpacaForChristmasPleaseSanta · 20/09/2025 08:45

maudelovesharold · 19/09/2025 19:06

So everyone else can wave their flags frantically in support of whatever they're passionate about....but not people who want Britain to be great again

Maybe we ought to have hats with ‘MUKGA’ on them. Not very catchy, though…

There were MEGA (Make England Great Again) hats being worn at the RacistsUnited Tommy Robinson protest last week.

I hasten to add that I saw photos of them in the paper, I wasn't there personally!

Watwing · 20/09/2025 08:47

Educated up to MSc, professional qualifications, 6 figure salary etc.

I love the flag and I love seeing them everywhere at the moment. I hate the 'you should be ashamed to be British' narrative that seems to have been prevalent in the last few years.

I have genuine concerns about migration (whilst understanding it's a complex subject).

If we ignore that the people putting up the flags are unlikely to all believe exactly the same and you simply mean Farage. I don't agree with everything but I agree with some much like I am with most political parties.

dizzydizzydizzy · 20/09/2025 08:48

PrincessC0nsuelaBananaHammock · 19/09/2025 18:27

What is the definition of "poorly educated"? And are working-class people's opinions only deemed worthy if they have a degree? Not all intelligence can be measured by traditional academics. Many, many people struggle academically and go on to be successful in other careers or other parts of life.

I think only gullible people believe in sky fairies. I'm guessing there are many degree educated people who are religious!

As a working-class "poorly educated" (ONLY GCSEs - poor me Hmm) I think most people flying flags are just jumping on the bandwagon. It's not something I'd ever do, but then all flags annoy me, whether they're St George, Palestinian, Israeli, rainbow or whatever.

Most working-class people aren't racist, unfortunately, Farage and co are tapping into the underlying current of discontent and constantly feeling put upon by the ordinary person.

I'm a lifelong Labour voter and very left-wing, but after seeing people claiming more in benefits than both DH and I earn combined, I can see why people are doing anything to be heard. I work in UC, and the number of people who are not from this country who manage to claim all kinds of benefits and then send the majority of it abroad is fucking appalling!

Compared to a case I dealt with earlier this week of a (British) man in his 40s who had had a nasty car accident 10 years ago. He has to live with his parents so they can care for him. He has a metal plate in his head, neurological damage that means he is mentally impaired in a lot of ways, had to have both his knees completely rebuilt and struggles to walk far. Yet he has been refused PIP twice and is only entitled to the standard allowance of £400pm of UC. He's expected to attend the JC regularly and prove he's been looking for work.

Last week I had a case of a man (not British born - won't say where, but he was white), who is entitled to UC LCWRA, PIP, and isn't expected to look for work. His "disability"? Depression.

Depression can be incredibly serious. My friend’s son tried to commit suicide due to depression and was in hospital for many (6?) weeks. A year later, he still isn’t well enough to work. He is in his 40s and has has a good career up until now. He definitely deserves PIP. PIP and LCWRA but both are incredibly hard to get and anyone who manages to get them definitely deserves them (quoting my GP here). No idea why the other poor soul you mention didn’t get them.

5128gap · 20/09/2025 08:49

FitAt50 · 19/09/2025 22:15

I believe ignoring the opinions of a huge percentage of the population is a huge risk. No 'intelligent' person saw Brexit coming or Trump winning a second election, and look what happened. Working class people are struggling and the opinions of 'normal' people are being ignored.

The opinions of normal people are being manipulated.
Unless a person is prepared to do a lot of research, read a variety of opinions based on evidence and weigh them in the balance to reach a conclusion of their own, they are susceptible to the lies and propaganda of politicians delivered in easy to digest soundbites, that appear to provide both a reason for their difficulties and a solution in one.
People don't have to be WC, or uneducated or stupid to be prey to these things. Very few of the population could give a detailed and factual account of immigration, the benefits and disadvantages and how this interplays with other social economic factors to effect their lives.
So we are left with most of the population, regardless of class and education having varying levels of information and a vague desire to do 'what's right' according to the own values and self interest.

dizzydizzydizzy · 20/09/2025 08:52

No I don't agree with the flag flyers and I am degree educated. However, they are in essence a peaceful protest. I'd rather people put flags us than incite violence on social media.

Petitchat · 20/09/2025 08:53

MasterBeth · 20/09/2025 00:33

If I hang a load of tat I bought off Amazon on a lamppost outside your house, it's not stealing if you take it down and get rid of it.

Okay, you keep telling yourself that....

IB40 · 20/09/2025 08:55

Degree, Agree. Working PT. DH higher rate tax payer and he's got a degree and agrees. I consider myself an immigrant although I was born here but largely brought up abroad. I'm of Asian descent. I don't believe the flags are anti-immigration,they are anti illegal immigration. As am I.

Livelovebehappy · 20/09/2025 08:56

Give over. You didn't get the response you guys wanted on the other 500 posts on this and you're not going to get the answer you want on this one too. It's a pretty uneducated and lazy opinion to just label everyone thick who votes Reform. Just saying. Is it the new go to because calling people racist doesn't work anymore? It's just too boring and tedious now. But yes. I love seeing the flag flying. And yes I'm educated to degree level. And no i wont be repeating why because if you are too dim to understand the reasons people posted before, then my guess is you still won't understand them here.

BlueJuniper94 · 20/09/2025 08:57

Gobbledygook123 · 19/09/2025 17:54

Plus if you’re also educated and at least middle income?

The only people I know personally that agree with Farage et al are from working class backgrounds and/or are generally not educated higher than GCSE level.

Granted this is quite a small snapshot but this includes friends of friends, acquaintances etc so wondering if my perception of the ‘typical Farage voter’ is correct or skewed.

Beware the big stupid gammonzilla rampaging around

Garden variety flag flyers yes (but don't forget that other 'side' - the left, believe that people can change sex - the average IQ in the population is low, and half of us are below that!)

LakieLady · 20/09/2025 08:58

Working class, grew up on a dead rough council estate, left school after O-levels and have never had a job that paid more than the average wage. I voted Labour until I moved into an LD/Con marginal constituency and now vote LD tactically.

I absolutely hate seeing the flags, and am pleased that there are very few where I live. They remind me of the massed ranks of the National Front marching in the 1970s, when I was a young adult.

And I blame Brexit voters for the current mess, they threw away the UK's right to to return asylum seekers to the first safe EU country. I'd like to see a Venn diagram of Brexit voters and flag shaggers.

LoisGriffinskitchen · 20/09/2025 09:05

Degree, but live in social housing.

I don’t mind the flags but dislike the reason behind them. If I had my way I’d invite every man, woman and child in England to a flag waving fest to reclaim the English flag from the racists.

Ironically there’s not a single flag anywhere in my social housing street…not one,

Livelovebehappy · 20/09/2025 09:06

Petrolitis · 19/09/2025 18:00

Degree and professional qualification and no I don't agree.

The flags are a rascist calling card. We've never ever been a big flag waving nation. It isn't anything to do with patriotism.

The poorly educated are easy to manipulate that's why Donald Trump freely admitted smart people don't vote for him. I listened to Tim Hartford take apart Nigel Farage's lies about unemployment figures on More or Less earlier. The information is all out there but if you don't have the education or an enquiring mind you don't even look for it.

That said I do think you have to be fucking thick to believe Farage after he so provably lied about Brexit.

Now here's a thought. Reform are ahead in the polls currently. A majority voted Trump in in Anerica. Is that not telling you something? That the majority.of people don't agree with you so perhaps it's yourself who is just too uneducated to actually understand what people are saying? Think about it.....

HeBeaverandSheBeaver · 20/09/2025 09:08

I was in a qualified profession but not anymore

I don't agree if the sentiment is racism which it probably is in some areas however I do agree the govt are not listening to the people in many areas

Small boats
Immigration generally
Send in school
Absence in school
Food Inflation
Utilities inflation
Job market
House prices
Taxing the wrong people

So in some cases I believe it's a general protest against neofeudalism

I pretty sure reform will get in unless this current govt starts listening to the people.

DiscontentedPig · 20/09/2025 09:11

The flag wavers aren't an homogeneous group, so it would be difficult to agree or disagree with them en masse.

I've only known one person with an English flag in their garden, and that was my best mate's dad. No longer with us, sadly, but he was a thoroughly decent bloke. Treated everyone as an equal and would have gladly had a drink and a bit of a laugh with more or less anyone from any culture, but he unashamedly considered his country and his culture to be every bit as good as anyone else's.

Quite a few of the "flag wavers" are probably in that category, and I broadly agree with them.

The majority are probably doing it as a political stunt, to goad the left into condemning (or appearing to condemn) the English flag and by implication the English people. And the left are marching smartly into this trap. I don't agree with this because I don't agree with treating politics as a game.

There will be a few who are waving the flag with the intention of making minorities feel uncomfortable or unwelcome, and no reasonable person would agree with that.

Educated and at least middle income? I have a BSc. There are tens of millions of people in the world who are smarter than me. I make about four times the average wage. All of this is largely down to luck, and my opinions should stand or fall on their own merit, like anyone else's.

Livelovebehappy · 20/09/2025 09:14

Watwing · 20/09/2025 08:47

Educated up to MSc, professional qualifications, 6 figure salary etc.

I love the flag and I love seeing them everywhere at the moment. I hate the 'you should be ashamed to be British' narrative that seems to have been prevalent in the last few years.

I have genuine concerns about migration (whilst understanding it's a complex subject).

If we ignore that the people putting up the flags are unlikely to all believe exactly the same and you simply mean Farage. I don't agree with everything but I agree with some much like I am with most political parties.

And that's the thing. By denying concerns are coming from all social classes, the left are just allowing Reform to grow in popularity because they're ignoring the fact that Labour and conservative parties are failing a majority. So why dont people getting agitated about Reform and flag flying divert their energy to lobbying labour to get their shit together?

Fairyliz · 20/09/2025 09:17

I’ve been travelling around the country recently including to the fairly deprived place I was born. I’ve noticed many more flags in the deprived areas than the nice middle class places.
These would have always been traditionally strong labour areas so does this suggest that flag flying is a left wing thing? Or left wingers have defected to Reform?
Perhaps left wingers aren’t the wonderful, kind tolerant people they portray themselves as.

5128gap · 20/09/2025 09:18

BlueJuniper94 · 20/09/2025 08:57

Beware the big stupid gammonzilla rampaging around

Garden variety flag flyers yes (but don't forget that other 'side' - the left, believe that people can change sex - the average IQ in the population is low, and half of us are below that!)

Edited

Could you share the working definition you are using for 'The Left'? Would that be my Labour voting 80 year old uncle and his friends from the old miners club? The Communist Party? Or just everyone who disagrees with the flags?
Because the first two groups do not believe people can change sex.
Perhaps you have evidence to share that proves everyone in the third group is 'The Left' and believes people can change sex?
Because without that, people might thing you're just using the term 'The Left' as a meaningless slur for people you disagree with, without really understanding what it actually means. And then making up lies to link people you disagree with with a rather niche belief about human biology.

Petitchat · 20/09/2025 09:18

IB40 · 20/09/2025 08:55

Degree, Agree. Working PT. DH higher rate tax payer and he's got a degree and agrees. I consider myself an immigrant although I was born here but largely brought up abroad. I'm of Asian descent. I don't believe the flags are anti-immigration,they are anti illegal immigration. As am I.

Edited

Thanks, a nice bit of common sense...

TheNoonBell · 20/09/2025 09:23

Degree educated, middle class high earner and have my own teeth.

I thought it was great to see the flags and how big the turnout was at Unite The Kingdom rally. The vibe is certainly changing, even middle class people I socialise with are starting to talk about previously socially unacceptable subjects openly.

Mosaiccat · 20/09/2025 09:23

Tastaturen · 20/09/2025 08:27

I think privilege is a big factor in the overall situation - privilege comes in many forms (and often isn't under our own control). I'm not sympathising with racists or homophobes or any other negative traits, simply stating that it's not really helpful to label people.

Edited

I agree. I have no doubt that a ton of racists are loving this, but I also can't help think of Rotherham. There is a lot of sneering on this thread.

I'm an immigrant and all the immigrants in my life are an asset to this country. I also know that my 'middle class, professional, educated' life insulates me from the concerns others have.

musicforthesoul · 20/09/2025 09:25

I broadly agree with the flag fliers, I think it looks great to see the English/British flag flying everywhere. Ideally it should be in a more appropriate place than from lampposts but as we currently don't seem to have many flagpoles etc it'll do for the moment.

I've got a degree and I'm a higher rate tax payer. I despise the undercurrent implying that only poorer/uneducated people support it. Besides anything else its completely condescending and actively drives people over to Reform.

Dislike Farage and Reform, I think if/when they get in they won't do anything other than put money in their own pockets and screw everyone else over.
Labour need to take a good long look at what the electorate actually wants (not what they think they should want), and start actually doing something (not talking, action) or it will be Reform next time. Reform wouldn't be so popular if Labour/Tories hadn't so thoroughly failed.

5128gap · 20/09/2025 09:28

TheNoonBell · 20/09/2025 09:23

Degree educated, middle class high earner and have my own teeth.

I thought it was great to see the flags and how big the turnout was at Unite The Kingdom rally. The vibe is certainly changing, even middle class people I socialise with are starting to talk about previously socially unacceptable subjects openly.

There was a report on the news last night where some elderly black women who have lived snd worked in the UK all their lives were speaking about the fear and intimidation they fear in the current climate. Some Asian people were also saying how divisive this has been. Do you think this fear and division felt by some of our citizens is worth it to 'Unite Britain?'.

Sadcafe · 20/09/2025 09:36

Gobbledygook123 · 20/09/2025 08:29

I don’t think you’ve read it properly at all? Well done to your BIL, you’ve not mentioned his political views or upbringing so maybe you’d missed the point?
Not all WC are thick. Not all MC are clever. Not all educated people are smart. Not all uneducated people are stupid. Very odd to jump to conclusions without reading the whole thread.

No, I didn’t miss the point which was about flying flags and if that was acceptable and how you were more likely to lean towards the right if you did,, it was the inference that the post and others seem to make that not having a degree or a professional qualification somehow makes you a lesser person who is more easily swayed by the likes of Farage, BIL was staunchly conservative but makes no bones about the fact he would now vote reform

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